Asbestos is an umbrella term for a specific group of minerals that have properties like heat and fire resistance. You can find asbestos in products like insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, and pipes used in industries such as construction, textiles, and shipbuilding. Unfortunately, its fibers pose numerous health risks when they get inside your body.
One disease linked to asbestos is a type of cancer called mesothelioma. The Mayo Clinic explains how mesothelioma develops when you inhale or ingest asbestos fibers, which stick to the lining covering your internal organs. Over time, the fibers irritate and cause inflammation, eventually resulting in cancerous growths on the tissue linings.
Mesothelioma typically takes decades to develop before it displays symptoms. However, the onset of these symptoms means it has reached an advanced stage and could kill you within a year if not treated promptly after diagnosis.
Due to its hazards, it is no longer widely used in the U.S. today. However, Rhode Island residents still find themselves at risk of asbestos exposure and could develop mesothelioma. If you or a loved one got this disease due to someone’s negligence, you could take legal action with a Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer’s help—no matter how long ago your exposure happened.
Call the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm office today at (800) 794-0444 if you need help with your mesothelioma case. Our legal team is available for free initial consultations 24/7.
Rhode Island Helps Protect Residents from Asbestos Exposure
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use and handling of asbestos. Rhode Island also has protective measures to keep residents safe from exposure, especially since shipbuilding is a prominent industry here. Many older homes and buildings in Rhode Island also used materials containing asbestos.
Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 23-24.5 details the rules that restrict asbestos use and guidelines on its removal from buildings. Meanwhile, the Department of Health’s Asbestos Control Program supervises abatement projects, issues licenses, and searches for potential hazards, particularly in public structures.
You can consult with a Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer if you want to know more about the state’s asbestos and mesothelioma-related laws.
Liability in a Mesothelioma Case
You can experience asbestos exposure in many ways throughout your life, which can make it time-consuming to determine which company to hold liable. However, the search can get easier if certain risk factors apply to you. For instance, a construction worker who performed repairs on an old house might have a higher risk of asbestos exposure. If their employer did not provide protective gear or warn them of possible exposure, they could become responsible for the worker’s future asbestos-related illnesses.
Another possible way to get exposed is if a company did not practice proper asbestos disposal protocols. This failure could result in asbestos dust spreading through the air and affecting everyone nearby, such as people living close to where it disposed of the carcinogen. In such a case, the company can become liable for any potential mesothelioma case since it handled the asbestos negligently.
A Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer from the office of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can investigate your situation and ascertain responsibility for your cancer. They can compare your work history with a list of asbestos-related companies and products, looking into any possible past asbestos law violations, and interviewing other victims. Call us today to get started.
Receiving Compensation with a Mesothelioma Claim
After helping you establish the liable parties, a Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer can help form a case against them. A civil case allows your family to receive compensation for the damage caused by the other party’s negligence. The court will review your arguments and evidence to determine how much you the defendant owes you. Some of the compensatory damages you can recover include medical treatment bills, prescription drug costs, lost earnings, and your pain and suffering.
Rhode Island does not have damage caps for mesothelioma cases, meaning there is no limit to the amount that you can recover. However, it is still beneficial to monitor all the expenses caused by your cancer. A personal injury lawyer can compile documents such as your medication and chemotherapy receipts to help compute your damages more accurately. They can also negotiate on your behalf in settlement talks with the liable party.
Comply with Rhode Island’s Statute of Limitations
Asbestos-related cases, including your mesothelioma lawsuit, follow the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims in Rhode Island—three years as established by Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 9-1-14. The court might dismiss your suit if you miss the deadline, so you might want to start working on it as soon as you get your diagnosis.
While three years seems like plenty of time, keep in mind that you have other concerns that you need to prioritize, such as treating the mesothelioma and recovery from those treatments. A Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer can determine the start date on the statute of limitations clock and work on your case when you cannot, giving you a better shot at submitting your lawsuit within the time limit.
You Have the Right to Seek Justice
Victims of asbestos exposure in Rhode Island who developed mesothelioma deserve to bring the responsible parties to justice with a civil claim. It could help their family recover financially and find closure for their harrowing experience. The office of Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can provide a Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer to assist with the legal procedures involved in your case.
Our team has over 35 years of experience handling personal injury claims all over the United States. Besides asbestos-related lawsuits, our practice areas include nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, and auto accident cases. For inquiries regarding our legal services, please contact our team anytime at (800) 794-0444.